SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Argentina – This Sunday, a new national champion of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol will be crowned in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. With perennial powerhouses River Plate and Boca Juniors both eliminated, the unlikely protagonists, Huracán and Platense, will face off in a fateful final. This represents an extremely rare opportunity for both teams to win a title, and it's expected to mark a historic page in Argentinian football.

A Fateful Buenos Aires Derby, But Without 'Bad Blood'

Technically, this final could be classified as a Buenos Aires derby, but there's no particular animosity between the two teams. Due to the sheer number of clubs in Argentina's capital, rivalries tend to form primarily between teams that share the same neighborhood or region. Nevertheless, this match will be a monumental showdown as it signifies an exceptionally rare chance at glory for both clubs.

For Huracán, it's a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a league title, and for Platense, it might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Just 90 minutes, or perhaps a penalty shootout, will lead one of these clubs to ultimate glory—a moment that has been a very long time coming.

Huracán Chases First League Title in 52 Years

Huracán hasn't won any title since 2014, and a league championship has eluded them since 1973. Their 1973 victory was their fifth top-flight title, with the other four all coming between 1921 and 1928. In essence, this league title is a long-awaited wish after 52 years and a golden opportunity to usher in another golden era in the club's history.

Huracán advanced to the final with a dramatic away penalty shootout victory over Independiente in the semifinals—another twist in this Argentinian playoff tournament. In the quarterfinals, they secured an away win against Rosario Central, who finished first in the 2025 Argentinian annual table, proving that no one can say 'Globo' (Huracán's nickname) doesn't deserve to be in the final.

Huracán currently boasts an impressive defensive record, with three consecutive clean sheets. However, they must play a Copa Sudamericana match against Corinthians of Brazil before this weekend's final. Fortunately, Huracán has already qualified for the Copa Sudamericana group stage, so they are expected to rest their key players ahead of Sunday's league final. This will give them a favorable condition to field their strongest squad in the final.

Platense: 119 Years of Waiting for a Miracle

If Huracán's trophy drought seems long, Platense's story is even more astonishing. Platense has never won a major title in its club history. The club, founded in 1905 in the northern part of Buenos Aires, has only experienced success through promotions from the second division to the first. Therefore, this Sunday's match holds even greater significance for 'Calamar' (Platense's nickname). For this team, playing in their distinctive brown jerseys, a win this weekend would truly be a miracle.

Platense is a relatively smaller club compared to Huracán, which isn't even considered one of Argentina's 'Big Five.' Platense's home stadium can hold fewer than 30,000 spectators and is usually only half full. They are often overlooked by other teams and have frequently had to sell talented young prospects to sustain the team.

However, Platense has already reached the final through a historic playoff run, winning all three of their tournament matches away from home. By successively defeating Racing Club, River Plate, and San Lorenzo, Platense has remarkably knocked out three of Argentina's 'Big Five' teams. It was an astonishing performance that defied all expectations. Platense's key has been their solid defense. In these three matches, they conceded only one goal—a penalty kick against River Plate—showcasing their robustness.

Since Platense doesn't participate in continental competitions, they've had a full week to prepare for the most important match in their 119-year history. This is an incredible underdog story for a club that has never come close to a major trophy, and a team that won only six of its 16 matches this season.

Expect a Tense and Tight Affair

Nevertheless, in the annual table, Huracán is only four points ahead of Platense. Neither team was considered a title favorite, but Platense's run to the final has been so exceptional that one can't help but believe their name might be etched on the trophy this year.

Judging by recent matches, this game is expected to be a very tense and low-scoring affair. However, for the fans of both clubs, it will be an enormous celebration and perhaps the best day of their lives as football supporters. For most Huracán supporters, it could be the first time their team lifts a major trophy, and for Platense, it would, of course, signify the club's first-ever championship.

While the Argentinian league structure is often criticized, this surprising final is a very welcome outcome from that chaos. No matter which team wins, a new page in Argentinian football history will be written this Sunday.

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